Ditching-machine.



P. D. MEYER. DIT'CHING MACHINE. APPLIOAT'IONHLED 1150.7, 190s.

Ptented Feb. '22, 1910;l

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F. D. ME YER,

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F. D. MEYER.

DITGHING MACHINE.

APPLIoAnuN FILED DB0. 7, 190s.

Patented Feb. 22,1910.

s sHBETs-SH'EBT a.

w.. n m a FRED D. MEYER, OF MOR DITCHINGMACHNE sanear.

'Zen of the United States, residing at Morris,

in the countyof Stevens and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bitching-Maohines, of which the following isa specification.

My invention has relation to improveinents in ditching machines of the steam shovel type, and shall be known as the Meyer perfect ditcher."`

The object of my improvements are, first, theoperation of a shovel on a single crane; second, to afford facilities for the vertical manipulation. of the entire crane, thus malring it possible to use the shovel thereof at Cat any required depth, between certain limitations, and atV the saine time, maintain its position at any desired or required angle; third, to adord facilities for moving the crane forward horizontally, Without moving the platform supporting motive power, at such times as such movement may be desired; fourth, to afford means for openingand closing the door of said. shovel, and fth to provide means for the thorough cleaning ofthe shovel after each dumping.

llfiththeseand other objects in view, my

invention consists of the novel const-riuftion and arrangement of parts, as are hereinafter described in the following specifieatioi'i, illustrated in .the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, and particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

The above objects l attain by virtue of the mechanism herein illustrated and de:- scribed.

in thedrawings:-Figure l is a side elevation of mv improved ditcher. Fig. is a ha. t L .vertical sectional view, taken on the linez 2--2 of Fig. l. Fig. I3 is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line 3 f2 of Fig. 2. i is a plan View of the crane` detached. 5 is a detail, longitudinal sectional view of the upper portion of the crane, showing/v the shovel open, the manner of opening the` same and showing the scraper in action. Fig. 6 is a. detail side elevation of the shovel, parts breiten away. Fig. 7 is a rear end view of said shovel. F ig. 8 is a fragmentary, oentral, vertical, longitudinal sectional view of the shovel, taken on the line 8--8 of Fig. T.

Referring more particularly to the aecompanying drawings, my invention is described as follows :wA

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 7, i908.

Patented Feb. 22., Maid.,

seran No. 466,305.

The crane l, provided withv longitudinal beams held substantially together by means of the transverse beams 3, has two flanges e, secured at the lower outer edge of each of said longitudinal beams, said flanges providing runways for the rollers 5, upon which is mounted the shovel t3. rl`he power from either a reversible engine or by utilization ofea planers gear is transmitted to a shaft T, having keyed to its outer vends sprocket wheels 8. The sprocket chains t), which are secured to said shovel at the points l0, pass around the pulleys ll, keyed to a shaft 1L), which is jouinaled in suitable bear ings at the base of said crane. Said chains are held taut by means of idlei's 13, rotatably mounted on a shaft 1l, said shaftl con siaiitly pressing said idlers against the chains 9. said shaft being in turn pressed downward bv means of a spring l5, The shaft le. is permitted to move at rightangles to the longitudinal axis of said crane by means of the elongated bearings 1G. Near the outer end of said cane a trip 17, if; provided, the lower surface thereof being convex so that the roller 18, will travel thereon with case, causing'a door 19, of said shovel to swing open. i The constructionand opening and closing of the door of said shovel will be described and explained more fully hereinafter. Si similar trip 20, is provided at the inner ond of said crane, the purpose of which is to trip certain latches of said door l2?, causing said door to be locked in position after closing.

The adjustable.platform 2l, is provided with vertically sliiling beams 22, fitting into and moving in vertically disposed carrying beams Q3. Said platform may be elevated or lowered by means of a chain 2l, secured to the platform by suitable fastening means 25, thence running upward working over a pulley 26. iournaled in suitable bearings at the lower end of the vertical beam 27. Secured at the lower end of said sliding beams 22, is a horizontal crosspiece Q8. Extending at right-angles and in a horizontalplane .with said crosspiece 28, are the guide rails teeth of each intermeshing with the teeth of its corresponding rack-bar. A wheel 35, is keyed to one of the extreme ends of the shaft 32, and may be operated by hand or otherwise. A. turntable 36, having the down- -wardly extending flanges 37, which are provided with perforations 39, is connected to said platform by means of a square bolt 40, and its motion in azimuth is facilitated by ball. bearing arrangement 41. Passing through said perforations 39, and corresponding perforations 42, in the lower ends of the horizontal beam 2, of said crane is a bolt 43, or such other suitableconnecting means as is adapted to pivotally connect the crane to said flanges 37. Said crane may be elevated or lowered by means of a chain or cable 44, working over the pulley 45, journaled in suitable bearings at the upper end of said vertical beam 27. Ih'e arrangementfor turning the turntable, thus regulating the azimuth of said crane is as follows A horizontal shaft 46, journaled in bearings carried by said beams 22, has reversible power transmitted to it by means of a wheel 47. Said shaft 46, carries another sprocket wheel 48, over which works a sprocket chain 49, which transmits power to a sprocket wheel 50, securely mounted on the shaft 51; said shaft 51, by means of the arms 52, is always held at fixed distances from said shaft 46, and a shaft 53. The shaft 53, is journaled in bearings 54, which are secured to said platform 21. A beveled gear 55, is secured to said shaft. 53, and its teeth intermesh with corresponding teeth of the beveled. gear 56, which is secured to the upper end of the bolt 40. It is obvious that the outer edge of said platform 21, should be so shaped as to permit of the free movement of the inner end of said crane 1.

Referring to the construction of the shovel it will be readily seen that the saine is box shaped, having, however, its front wall removed, and being provided'on the under surface of its bottom with longitudinal ribsv 57, the forward ends of which protrude forming the prongs 58. l/Vlien said shovel is traveling toward the outer end of the.

crane 1, and the roller 18, comes in contact with said trip ll the slide 59, is pressed downwardly against the resistance of the spring 60, which is' coiled around the lugs 61; the latches 62, which. are pivoted to the door 19, by means of said lugs 61, passing through the elliptical perforation 63, have their inner ends'pivotally connected to the lower end of said slide 59. Thus when said slide is pressed downward the outer ends of said latches are raised upward, disengaging them from the notches 64, cut in the proiecting ends 65, of the slanting braces 66, which are riveted securely to the side walls of said shovel. The forward projecting ends 67, of

said braces 66, are provided with perfora tions 68. The forward end of said crane is` provided with a scraper 69, clearly shown in 'l FigL 5,A and it- 'will be obvious that thisV cleaner 'is for the purpose of scraping out any earth which. might tend to adhere to the inner shovel is closed by gravity, and the latches 62, are caused to engage the notches 64, when said roller 18, passes'over said ltrip 20.

Though I have specifically described myj invention, I may exercise the right to make such modifications in the form and construction of my device as do not depart from the spirit ofthe claims hereunto appended, and as fallwithin the scope thereof.

I Iaving described -iny invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In a ditching machine comprising a crane, said crane provided with a shovel,

76 surface of said shovel. The door 19, of said f said shovel, having three walls, being open` v at its forward end, the rear wall consisting of a door pivotally connected to the side walls at its upper edge, slanting braces secured to the outer surface of said side walls,

provided with notches, latches, their outer 9? said braces terminating in projecting ends ends adapted to be engaged by said notches,

a slide at the lower end of which the inner ends of said latches are pivotally connected, lugs projecting from said door, one of each extending through an elliptical perforation` in each of said latches, said latches adapted to be-disengaged from saidnotches when pressure is exerted upon the upper' end of vcenter of said platform, a beveled gear resting upon said platform and connected to said turntable by means of a square bolt, a

verticallydisposed beveled gear by which power is transmitted to said first-named beveled gear .for the rotation of said turntable, substantially as shown.

4. In a ditching machine comprising a platform provided with guide rails, rackbars secured to said guide rails on their uiider surfaces, the central portion of said platform adapted to move forwardly and rearwardly upon the guide rails theieof,-a shaft journaled iii suitable bearings secured to the rear edge of the movable portion of said platform, gear wheels keyed near each end of said shaft, the teeth of each ntermeshing With the teeth of its corresponding ruck-bar. :1 Wheel, keyed to one of the extreme ends of one of the shafts as mens to 7 transmit power thereto, substantially as shown and deserlbed.

In testimony whereof l ax my signature, in presence oiitwo Wltnesses.

FRED D. MEYER.-

Vtnesses GEO. W. BERSE, W. C. BICLUHQLL.v 

